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Ahrens-Fox
Ahrens-Fox fire apparatus -- quality, power, impressiveness,
longevity. These are all qualities associated with this brand
of fire apparatus. These vehicles served many departments, not
only in the United States, but throughout the world.
Although not the largest fleet of Ahrens-Fox fire
apparatus to serve any one department, fifty Ahrens-Fox rigs protected
New York City during a period that spanned six decades, beginning
in 1915, and lasting into 1972. During this time period, the Ahrens-Fox
apparatus fought some of the most spectacular and historic multiple
alarm fires in New York's history. The fifty rigs included pumpers,
both piston and centrifugal models, aerial ladders, and even an
airport crash rig, converted from a pumper, and believed to be
the only Ahrens-Fox airport crash unit in service anywhere.
New York City's Ahrens-Fox story begins with the
delivery of six Model MK-2 piston pumpers in 1915. These vehicles
were ordered on April 23, 1915 and were placed in service from
October 15, 1915 through March 16, 1916. They were among the earliest
motorized gasoline powered pumpers to enter F.D.N.Y. service,
predated only by a 1911 Waterous 750 gpm piston pumper and two
1913 Nott 500 gpm rotary gear pumpers which lasted only until
1918. These six units carried AhrensFox serial numbers 801 through
806, had open cabs, right hand steering, solid rubber tires, chain
drive, lantern-style lamps for head lights, hand cranked sirens
and no windshields. Their front-mounted piston pumps were rated
at 750 gpm at 120 psi pump pressure. At least one of these pumpers
(803) was later retrofitted with a deck pipe while another (806)
had an overhead ladder rack installed.
Before delivery of the 1915 order had been completed,
another contract was placed with Ahrens-Fox on February 8, 1916,
for two additional MK-2 pumpers identical to the 1915 models.
Both of these, carrying Ahrens-Fox serial numbers 817 and 818,
were placed in service on July 16 and August 16, 1916, respectively.
Several of the MK-2 models remained in service into the late 1930's
and one (817) remained on the roster as a training unit until
1945.
Over a decade would pass before another Ahrens-Fox
apparatus would be placed in service in New York, with predominantly
American LaFrance and a hand full of Robinson pumpers being purchased
in the intervening years. This lone rig was a 1927 model HP-2
piston pumper carrying Ahrens-Fox serial number 744 and rated
at 1000 gpm at 160 psi. It was tested for two days, June 1 and
2, before being placed in service in midtown Manhattan on June
4, 1927. This pumper was considered a showpiece and was assigned
to the theatre district where it would be seen, not only by many
New Yorkers, but also by millions of out-of-town visitors. It
was also an open-cab model without a windshield, closely resembling
the 1915 and 1916 pumpers in design but larger, and was the first
F.D.N.Y. pumper to be equipped with pneumatic tires, having single,
rather than dual rear wheels. It also had right-hand steering,
which was common for that time period. Unlike other pumpers of
this era being purchased by New York, it was never equipped with
a deck pipe. Towards the end of its service life, the rear half
of its ball-shaped air chamber was painted a dull red to cut down
on glare from the sun, a common complaint from its chauffeurs.
The HP-2 remained in service until the late 1940's. It was valued
at $14,450 when delivered.
New York purchased American LaFrance, Mack, and Seagrave
pumpers from 1928 through 1933 but returned to Ahrens-Fox for
two 1000 gpm AHP model piston pumpers ordered on November 25,
1932. These two units were placed in service on May 24, 1933,
and were high pressure open-cab models equipped with windshields,
deck pipes, overhead racks for the scaling ladders, left hand
steering, solid rubber tires, and had an overall length of 27
feet 3 inches. Other Ahrens-Fox innovations on these units included
two running boards (one at the chassis level), a solid bar front
bumper, fold down windshield, chromed hood vents, a spotlight,
and four-wheel brakes, which was rare for that era. These "modern"
items were placed on vehicles that also contained a mix of traditional
features: spoke wheels, Dietz lanterns, and the fuel tank mounted
atop the hose bed, to mention a few. They carried Ahrens-Fox serial
numbers 4003 and 4004. At the time these were the largest Ahrens-Fox
pumpers ever built. The solid rubber tires were replaced with
pneumatic tires several years after delivery. When this was done,
the dual rear solid rubber tires were replaced with a single pneumatic
tire.
Following the two AHP models were four almost identical
pumpers of the same capacity ordered under two separate contracts
during 1933 and 1934 and designated NT-2 models. They were assigned
Ahrens-Fox serial numbers 3410 through 3413 and were built at
a cost of $13,850 each. These 1934 models were delivered with
pneumatic tires, again having only single rather than dual rear
wheels and, in a backward move, reverted to righthand steering.
Both the 1933 AHP models and the 1934 NT-2 models remained on
the roster into the late 1950's as spares.
Seagrave and Mack pumpers were purchased for several
years before the next Ahrens-Fox purchase. The units delivered
under this contract were the first of a model, perhaps most associated
with New York, and were ordered on July 27, 1937. Two Model HT
pumpers, serial numbers 3423 and 3424, actually purchased by the
1939 New York World's Fair, were delivered on April 30, 1938.
These units had closed cabs, Hercules engines, Invincible deck
pipes with 2-1/2 inch barrels, 1000 gpm pumps, subway straps and
a windshield over the back steps. They also had a split front
windshield with either side capable of opening independently and
were quite different in appearance from earlier Ahrens-Fox pumpers.
These same units were also delivered with three floodlights, a
feature uncommon for New York pumpers. However, these were later
removed. The pumpers had a wheelbase of 209 inches and an overall
length of 27 feet 2 inches. The now common, but still unusual,
Ahrens-Fox feature of single rear tires, rather than dual rear
wheels, were again incorporated on these pumpers. A spare tire
was carried on the left rear running board behind the rear fender.
The World's Fair also purchased three Ahrens-Fox
centrifugal pumpers built on Schacht chassis, which were delivered
on April 20, 1938. These units were designated SC models, had
closed cabs, Hercules engines, Hale pumps rated at 500 gpm at
120 psi, carried serial numbers 9043 through 9045, and were much
smaller than the pumpers being purchased by New York at the time,
having a wheelbase of 168.5 inches and an overall length of 21
feet 9 inches. Their cost was $5700 each.
On January 7, 1938, New York also ordered twenty
HT model piston pumpers that were virtually identical to the two
World's Fair HT models. However, the pumps on these rigs, although
also of 1000 gpm capacity, were slightly smaller in size with
a different stroke and bore, while their Morse deck pipes, with
three-inch barrels, were slightly larger than those on the two
World's Fair HT pumpers. They had a wheelbase of 212 inches, three
inches longer than the World's Fair units but were 27 feet 1 inch
in length, one inch shorter than the World's Fair HT models. The
three floodlights delivered on the World's Fair units were omitted
on these pumpers. These units comprised the largest single F.D.N.Y.
Ahrens-Fox contract and were delivered on May 21, 1938. All twenty
were placed in service on June 25, 1938, less than six months
after they were ordered. They carried Ahrens-Fox serial numbers
3425 through 3444 and were delivered at a cost of only $12,145
per unit, less expensive than the 1934 NT-2 models
Another order was placed with Ahrens-Fox on December
28, 1938 for six additional HT pumpers, which were delivered during
June and July, 1939. The cost was only $11,880 per vehicle, $265
cheaper than the previous year's model. These were assigned serial
numbers 3449 through 3454. Visually, the 1939 models differed
from the 1938 models by having a belt driven friction siren mounted
under the hood, rather than an electrically operated mechanical
siren mounted in front of the pump and by the suction hose that
was mounted beneath the scaling ladder, instead of above it as
on the 1938 models. Otherwise, they were exact replicas of the
1938 order. Most of the HT models remained on the roster into
the late 1950's.
The only Ahrens-Fox aerial ladders to be operated
by the F.D.N.Y. were placed in service on December 14, 1940 and
were delivered at a cost of $15,327 per vehicle. These four units
were tillered rigs with open-cab tractors, belt driven mechanical
sirens, a twelve-inch bell, were 63 feet long, with 85-foot, two-section
wooden aerials equipped with spring-raised hoisting mechanisms.
Their power plant was a six-cylinder Waukesha engine. They were
designated Model W-85, carried serial numbers 2069 through 2072,
and were the last aerial ladders to be built by Ahrens-Fox. It
is interesting to note the large overhang of the aerial ladder
at the rear of the apparatus, something that modern day tillermen
do not have to deal with. The distance from the rear axle to the
tip of the aerial was 17 feet 6 inches while the distance from
the rear running board to the tip of the aerial was 11 feet 8
inches, a considerable distance behind the tillerman that had
to be considered at every turn made
Each of these W-85 aerial ladders were delivered
with quite a large amount of equipment that included: a 25-foot,
a 20-foot and two 35-foot straight ladders, 16foot and 30-foot
extension ladders, 10-foot, 12-foot and 15-foot roof ladders,
and a 16-foot, a 12-foot and two 14-foot scaling ladders. All
ladders were of wood construction. Hand tools included two 10-foot,
a 20-foot, a 25-foot and six 6-foot wood hooks, four 8-pound flat
head axes, a 3/4-inch bar cutter, a steel maul, two steel crow
bars, a tin roof cutter, a Hale door opener, a twin cutter with
insulated handles, two square shovels, two 4-tine pitch forks,
a hydraulic jack and handle, a steel ram and wall cutter and a
tool kit. Other equipment included soda and acid and foam extinguishers,
four brass lanterns, 150 feet of 2-1/2 inch rope, an Atlas life
net, and a sub-cellar pipe and nozzle. After delivery, the New
York City Fire Department Shops installed a 1250 watt Homelite
generator, a 250 watt and two 500 watt floodlights on each rig.
At the conclusion of the 1939-1940 World's Fair,
the Fair's five Ahrens-Fox pumpers (two HT models and three SC
models) were turned over to the department. The two HT models
were assigned as regular apparatus of engine companies. However,
the three smaller SC models begin another chapter in New York's
Ahrens-Fox history. These rigs were assigned as the second piece
(hose wagon) of engine companies. One (9043) had an overhead ladder
rack added to carry a portable 35-foot metal extension ladder,
an innovation at the time. Another (9045) was equipped with a
bank of eight manifolded carbon dioxide cylinders, each with a
capacity of fifty pounds, and two hose reels, each having 1000
feet of one-inch hose to discharge the carbon dioxide. The conversion
of this unit was accomplished by the Carbon Dioxide Fire Equipment
Company of Newark, New Jersey, in 1941 and was "state-of-the-art"
for airport fire protection at that time. The "new"
crash truck was assigned to the LaGuardia Airport Crash Unit on
April 19, 1941. When the New York Port Authority assumed responsibility
for aircraft crash-fire-rescue at the city's airports, this rig
was reconverted back into a pumper.
During February, 1941, five HT model pumpers, three
from the 1938 order (3426, 3432, 3433) and two from the 1939 order
(3449, 3452) were retrofitted with the unique feature of a hinged
rear step. The rationale for this was to enable these pumpers
to be placed in a vehicle elevator which operated from the center
of the Queensborough Bridge down to Welfare (now Roosevelt) Island,
located in the center of the East River. Prior to the construction
of the Welfare Island Bridge, this elevator was the only practical
method for responding units to reach Welfare Island. When compared
to other contemporary pumpers, such as the 1937 Mack pumpers which
were 26 feet 4 inches long, the HT models were almost a foot longer,
having an overall length of 27 feet 1 inch (the World's Fair HT
models were an inch longer). With the step in the folded position,
additional clearance of slightly over one foot was provided.
The first permanently mounted ladder-pipe on any
New York aerial ladder was installed on Ladder Company 45's W-85
aerial (2070) on June 12, 1942, and eventually led to the disbanding
of the water towers when all future metal aerial ladders were
purchased with lad der-pipes. This installation included tips
of 1-1/4 and 1-1/2 inch in size and 3-inch hose. The ladder-pipe
had a capacity of 600 gpm.
On January 9, 1945, while operating at a multiple
alarm fire, a collapse occurred which killed several firefighters
and virtually destroyed the tractor of Ladder Company 40's W-85
aerial (2072). The tractor was extensively rebuilt, the chrome
radiator grille removed, the location of the Ahrens-Fox emblems
changed, and body work completed. This resulted in a tractor still
carrying Ahrens-Fox name plates but, one very different from its
original appearance. The final product actually appeared to be
an older model than it was because of its lack of "modern"
styling.
After years of hard use, the Ahrens-Fox aerial tractors
were worn out, although the trailers and aerial ladders remained
in relatively good shape. All four of the original tractors were
replaced during the first four months of 1962 with Ward LaFrance
tractors which resulted in greatly extending the life span of
these aerials. All four of these Ward LaFrance tractors had been
used previously under late-1920's vintage American LaFrance and
Seagrave aerial trailers. A 1947 Ward LaFrance tractor was placed
under registration number 2072 replacing the rebuilt Ahrens-Fox
tractor at Ladder 40. The other three original 1940 Ahrens-Fox
tractors were replaced by 1948 Ward LaFrance tractors. These tractors
were powered by six-cylinder Continental engines. The installation
of these tractors actually resulted in units that were even slightly
longer in overall length as the "new" tractors were
slightly longer than the original AhrensFox tractors. The last
Ahrens-Fox aerial (2070) remained on F.D.N.Y.'s roster as a spare
and later as a training vehicle. It was finally disposed of on
August 4, 1972.
The F.D.N.Y. unit most associated with Ahrens-Fox
apparatus would have to be Engine Company 65, located in the heart
of midtown Manhattan. Engine 65 was the only unit that operated
every model of Ahrens-Fox piston pumpers on New York's roster
at one time or another. Starting on January 1, 1916, with an MK-2
(804), Engine 65 next received an HP-2 (749) on June 4, 1927.
This apparatus was replaced by an AHP (4003) on May 24, 1933,
which in turn was replaced by an HT (3432) on June 25, 1938. The
HT remained in service at Engine 65 until replaced by a 1947 Mack.
Ahrens-Fox pumpers served Engine 65 continuously from 1916 to
1947, but the story doesn't end there. In May, 1951, after several
years of requesting that their Ahrens-Fox be reassigned back to
them, Engine 65 was assigned an HT (3423) which had been assigned to Engine 71 and was
one of the two HT models purchased by the World's Fair. It was
necessary to assign Engine 71 a pumper with a shorter turning
radius when that unit switched bays in its firehouse as a result
of Rescue Company 3 having been relocated there.
Most apparatus historians assumed that this was the end of New York's Ahrens-Fox story but, several years later, an interesting development occurred. In the late 1950's, a 1938 HT model (3427), having been deemed as surplus, was turned over to the State of New York to provide fire protection at the Otisville State Hospital in upstate Orange County. This had been common practice over the years and many former F.D.N.Y. apparatus had been turned over to other city, state, and even federal agencies for fire protection at various institutions. In most cases, these rigs served several years until the respective institution was able to obtain a newer apparatus. This apparently was the case in Otisville. Fortunately, however, this HT was somehow preserved a little longer than expected. During the late-1970's, this rig was "discovered" and moved to the New York State Museum in Albany where it is currently on display with several other pieces of fire apparatus, as the only surviving example of an F.D.N.Y. Ahrens-Fox.